Space Shuttle Enterprise flyover wows New Yorkers

New York — Hundreds of space shuttle fans braved the chilly temperatures and biting wind Friday morning (April 27) along the Hudson River here to catch a glimpse of NASA's prototype orbiter as it flew past the museum it will soon call home.

As Enterprise and its chaperone flew overhead, the crowd, which was made up of men, women and children of all ages, erupted into cheers and applause.

"It was absolutely amazing to see it like that," Adam Schechter said shortly after Enterprise's first pass. Schechter carried his young son, Harry, and spoke energetically about his experiences with the space shuttles, including seeing the STS-97 launch of the shuttle Endeavour in November 2000.

"It was amazing, and the loudest thing I ever heard in my life," Schechter told SPACE.com.

Just over a week ago, on April 19, Enterprise was replaced at the Smithsonian by the shuttle Discovery, NASA's most-flown orbiter. Enterprise will now find a home at the Intrepid in an enclosure on the deck of the converted World War II-era aircraft carrier, until the museum finishes construction of the prototype orbiter's permanent display area.

Enterprise is scheduled to arrive at the Intrepid, which sits along the Hudson River, via barge in June.

But spectators today at Pier 86 got a sneak preview of the test shuttle that is now a New York resident.

And while the Irvins have never seen a shuttle launch in person, they said they have followed the shuttle program over the years. Ceil said she became interested in the space program during NASA's Apollo moon program, when she was working for Pan American Airways. For her, seeing Enterprise is a unique mix of two of her passions.

"This is a combination of the two for me," she said. "This is something I've always wanted to see."

But more than anything, locals in the crowd were just excited to have a piece of the shuttle program on their home turf.

"I'm glad New York was able to get it up here," Kenneth Irvin said. "I know there was a battle about which city it should go to, so I'm very glad New York got it."

And despite the cold conditions, the view was well worth it, Schechter said with a smile.

"It would have even been worth getting up 15 hours earlier for this," he said.